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Lucy Letby trial: Nurse tried to kill newborn baby twice, trial told Lucy Letby trial: Nurse killed baby on fourth attempt, trial told
(31 minutes later)
Lucy Letby, 32, of Hereford, denies 22 charges at Manchester Crown CourtLucy Letby, 32, of Hereford, denies 22 charges at Manchester Crown Court
A nurse accused of murdering babies on a neonatal ward tried to kill a premature baby girl on two consecutive night shifts, a court has heard. A nurse accused of murdering babies on a neonatal ward tried four times to kill a premature baby girl before succeeding, a court has heard.
Lucy Letby is charged with murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.Lucy Letby is charged with murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.
Manchester Crown Court heard the attempts on the girl's life happened when she was five and six days old. Manchester Crown Court was told Ms Letby allegedly tried to kill the girl by injecting her with air.
Ms Letby, 32, from Hereford, has denied 22 charges.Ms Letby, 32, from Hereford, has denied 22 charges.
Continuing the prosecution's opening statement, Nick Johnson KC said the case of the child, referred to for legal reasons only as Baby H, was complicated by the sub-optimal treatment given to her. Continuing the prosecution's opening statement for a third day, Nick Johnson KC said the circumstances of the death of the girl, were "an extreme example even by the standards of this case".
He said she had a series of medical problems, which had known causes, but had suffered two inexplicable collapses on two consecutive nights. "There were four separate occasions on which we allege Lucy Letby tried to kill her," he said.
Lucy Letby worked on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital The child, referred to for legal reasons as Baby I, was "resilient," he said, "but ultimately at the fourth attempt, Lucy Letby succeeded in killing her".
He said that on the first occasion Ms Letby had injected air into Baby I.
On her second attempt, he said she had stood in the doorway of the girl's darkened room and commented that she looked pale.
The girl's designated nurse then turned on the light and saw Baby I appeared at the point of death and was not breathing.
Mum walked in on nurse killing baby, jury hears
Nurse poisoned babies with insulin, trial told
Earlier, Mr Johnson told the court about attempts made on the life of another premature girl, Baby H, on two consecutive night shifts.
He said that girl had had a series of known medical problems but had suffered two inexplicable collapses.
As Baby H was being given treatment in the unit's intensive care section, Mr Johnson said Lucy Letby "would have had the cover of legitimacy for accessing her intravenous lines just before she collapsed".As Baby H was being given treatment in the unit's intensive care section, Mr Johnson said Lucy Letby "would have had the cover of legitimacy for accessing her intravenous lines just before she collapsed".
Lucy Letby worked on the neonatal ward at the Countess of Chester Hospital
He said on the first night, Ms Letby was the girl's designated nurse and, after she collapsed, she was transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital.He said on the first night, Ms Letby was the girl's designated nurse and, after she collapsed, she was transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital.
"She was stabilised in the transport," he said."She was stabilised in the transport," he said.
"Her mother speaks of her dramatic improvement as soon as she got to [the hospital] and the medical records bear this out.""Her mother speaks of her dramatic improvement as soon as she got to [the hospital] and the medical records bear this out."
He said Ms Letby had not been Baby H's designated nurse the following night, after she was returned to Chester.He said Ms Letby had not been Baby H's designated nurse the following night, after she was returned to Chester.
"A doctor saw her giving oxygen and assumed she was the baby's nurse. He took the medical history from her," he said."A doctor saw her giving oxygen and assumed she was the baby's nurse. He took the medical history from her," he said.
"We suggest that is a pretty good indication of who it was that 'discovered' that Baby H was having problems.""We suggest that is a pretty good indication of who it was that 'discovered' that Baby H was having problems."
Mr Johnson said: "It is a notable fact in the case of [Baby H] and others that as soon as children were removed from the Countess of Chester and the sphere of influence of Lucy Letby, it was often followed by their sudden and remarkable recovery."
Lucy Letby's trial is continuing for a third dayLucy Letby's trial is continuing for a third day
Mr Johnson said: "It is a notable fact in the case of [Baby H] and others that as soon as children were removed from the Countess of Chester and the sphere of influence of Lucy Letby, it was often followed by their sudden and remarkable recovery."
He said a week after the baby's collapses, Ms Letby searched Facebook for the girl's parents and for the families of two other children she is accused of attacking.He said a week after the baby's collapses, Ms Letby searched Facebook for the girl's parents and for the families of two other children she is accused of attacking.
He added a police search of her home also found hospital handover notes relating to the girl.He added a police search of her home also found hospital handover notes relating to the girl.
The case continues.The case continues.
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